Wales ace Dan Lydiate: We need to prove ourselves again at Twickenham

FLANKER Dan Lydiate knows it will take a win at Twickenham to stay in Wales boss Warren Gatland's good books, writes Chris Kirwan.

The Six Nations title race is wide open after Wales and England ended France and Ireland's Grand Slam hopes.

After a round two humbling in Dublin, the champions grasped their shot at redemption with a comprehensive success against Les Bleus at the Millennium Stadium.

But 26-year-old Lydiate recognises that it will take another famous Twickenham triumph a week on Sunday if they are to make it a tournament to remember.

"From the final whistle in Dublin we were hurting badly," said the former Newport Gwent Dragons blindside flanker. "We let a lot of people down and ourselves.

"We were just thankful that Gats gave us another chance to prove ourselves – but it is just one game.

"We have to build on this at Twickenham. The championship is a massive motivation and we are back in the race.

"England are playing well but it would be huge if we can go to Twickenham and get a win."

Lydiate produced a tremendous defensive display against Les Bleus, topping the tackle charts with 15 victims.

And the Racing Metro back row forward revealed that he was fired up by a rocket courtesy of head coach Gatland following some under-par displays.

"Warren did speak to me individually after Ireland, and rightly so," said the blindside, who was not the only one member of the pack to be given some home truths following the Dublin debacle.

"It's not a nice thing to hear off your coach but Gats has always been honest with his players and I'd rather be told.

"That's the level that we are at and I want it to continue that way, if you deserve praise you get it and if you deserve a kick up the backside you get that as well."

"Everyone tries to do their best every game but against Italy and Ireland I was penalised off the park. I did exactly the same against France but didn't get penalised, that's the way it goes and it's down to the ref's interpretations.

"You don't change what you do as a player but sometimes it works and other times it doesn't."

Lydiate and international teammates Jamie Roberts and Mike Phillips return to Racing Metro for their home Top 14 encounter with Castres on Saturday.